Contactor

ABSTRACT

A contactor comprises an insulating carrier comprising a pair of spaced leg portions at one end thereof that are pivotally supported to support the insulating carrier for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot. An overload relay is removably supported on the contactor between the spaced leg portions of the insulating carrier. The insulating carrier supports a movable contact structure and a magnetic armature to provide a movable structure movable between open and closed positions. Opening movement of the movable structure is limited by engagement of the movable structure with stop means on a removable arc hood structure. When the arc hood structure is removed the movable structure can be moved past the open position to a maintenance position.

United States Patent Collins et al. June 27, 1972 [541 CONTACTOR3,525,059 8/1970 Schramm et a] ..335/132 [72] inventors: James D.Collins, Buffalo; Thoma A. Wilsdon, Alden, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: March 30, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 129,473

[52] U.S. Cl... ..335/l32, 335/193 [5 l] Int. Cl. ..H01h 51/06 [58]Field ofSearch ..335/l32, 192,193, 194, 201

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,732,452 1/1956 Jackson eta]. ..335/l93 3,324,431 6/1967 Cataldo et al ..335/132 3,388,353 6/1968lsler ..335/132 3,469,215 9/1969 Brovedan ..335/1 32 PrimaryExaminer-Harold Broome Anomey-A. T. Stratton, W. A. Elchik and ClementL. McHale ABSTRACT A contactor comprises an insulating carriercomprising a pair of spaced leg portions at one end thereof that arepivotally supported to support the insulating carrier for pivotalmovement about a fixed pivot. An overload relay is removably supportedon the contactor between the spaced leg portions of the insulatingcarrier. The insulating carrier supports a movable contact structure anda magnetic armature to provide a movable structure movable between openand closed positions. Opening movement of the movable structure islimited by engagement of the movable structure with stop means on aremovable arc hood structure. When the arc hood structure is removed themovable structure can be moved past the open position to a maintenanceposition.

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CONTACTOR CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Certain featuresherein disclosed are disclosed and claimed in the copending applicationof Thomas A. Wilsdon et al., Ser. No. l29,474, filed concurrentlyherewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention Electromagneticcontactors.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is old in the art to provide acontactor comprising a pivotally supported movable structure movablebetween open and closed positions. This invention is an improvement overthe prior art in that stop means on a removable arc hood structurelimits opening movement of the movable structure, and when the arc hoodstructure is removed the movable structure can be pivotally moved pastthe open position to a maintenance position.

It is also old in the art to provide a contactor structure with anoverload relay removably supported thereon for operating the contactorstructure in response to an overload. This invention provides animproved compact structure wherein the overload relay is removablysupported between pivotally supported spaced leg parts of a movableinsulating carrier. The movable insulating carrier is movable to amaintenance position without interference from the overload relay.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A contactor comprises an insulating support anda contactor structure supported on the insulating support. The contactorstructure comprises a stationary structure including a stationarycontact structure and a movable structure including a movable contactstructure. The movable structure comprises an insulating carrier withthe movable contact structure being supported on the insulating carrierin proximity to one end of the insulating carrier. Pivot support means,in proximity to the other end of the insulating carrier, supports theinsulating carrier for movement about a fixed pivot. Electromagneticoperating means comprises a magnetic yoke and an energizing coilsupported on the insulating support. The electromagnetic means alsocomprises a magnetic armature supported on the insulating carrierbetween the movable contact structure and the pivot support means of theinsulating carrier. An arc hood structure is supported on the insulatingsupport in proximity to the stationary and movable contact structures.Kick-out spring means is provided to bias the movable structure towardan open unactuated position. Upon energization of the coil and armatureis drawn toward the yoke to pivot the movable structure to the closedposition wherein the movable contact structure engages the stationarycontact structure. Upon deenergization of the coil to open the contactorthe kick-out spring means pivots the movable structure to an openposition wherein the movable contact structure is disengaged from thestationary contact structure. Stop means on the insulating arc hoodstructure engages the movable structure to limit opening movement of themovable structure. Upon removal of the arc hood structure the movablestructure is pivotally movable in the opening direction past the openposition to a maintenance position. The insulating carrier, at thesupported end thereof, comprises a pair of spaced leg portions that arepivotally supported to support the insulating carrier for pivotalmovement. An overload relay is removably supported on the insulatingsupport between the spaced leg portions of the insulating carrier. Themovable structure is movable between the closed, open and maintenancepositions without interference from the overload relay.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front plan view of acontactor constructed in accordance with principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line II- II of FIG.I with the overload relay being shown in full lines in the mountedposition thereof and partially in broken lines in a removed position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the contactor shown in theenergized closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the arc hood structur removedand with the movable structure being shown in the maintenance position;and

FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the contactor as shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, thereis shown therein a threepole contactor 5 comprising a stationaryinsulating support 7 and a contact structure 9 supported on theinsulating support 7. In each pole unit, there is a conductor 11, with astationary contact 13 secured thereto, secured to the insulating support7 by means of a bolt 15. In each pole unit there is another conductor 17secured to the insulating support 7 by means of bolts 19 and 21. Astationary contact 23 is secured to the conductor 17 by means of thebolt 19. As can be understood with reference to FIG. 2, the conductorsl1 and 17 are spaced and an insulating part 25 of the base 7 is disposedtherebetween. The insulating support 7 is a molded insulating membermolded with three cavities 27 therein for receiving three currenttransformers 29 of the three-pole units. Each of the conductors 17passes through an opening in the associated current transformer 29 asillustrated in FIG. 2.

There is a single generally U-shaped stationary magnetic member or yoke31 supported in a cavity 33 of the insulating support 7. A pair ofcompression springs 35 (only one being shown in FIG. 2) and a dampingspring 37 are provided to resiliently mount the stationary magneticmember 31 in a manner more specifically described in the above-mentionedcopending US. Pat. application Ser. No. l29,474. Suitable stop meanslimits frontward movement of the stationary magnetic member 31 under thebias of the loaded compression springs 35. An insulated energizing coil39 (FIG. 2), having a pair of openings therein for receiving the legs ofthe stationary magnetic member 31 (FIG. 5), is supported on theinsulating support 7 by means of a pair of bolts 43 (FIG. 2). A pair ofkick-out springs 45 are supported on the insulating support 7 onopposite sides of the coil 39. There is a three-pole arc hood structure47 supported on the insulating support 7. The are hood structurecomprises a molded insulating arc hood 49 having three pockets 51 forthe three-pole units of the contactor. A plurality of magnetic plates 53are supported in each of the pockets 51 in a stacked relationship. Theplates 53 are provided with slots 55 therein that are aligned so thatone of the movable contacts can be moved within the slots 55 in a mannerto be hereinafter described. A metallic magnetic arc cup 57, having aslot 59 therein, is supported on the insulating support 7 in proximityto one of the stationary contacts 23.

As can be understood with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the hood structure47 is secured to the insulating support 7 by means of a pair ofelongated bolts 61 which pas through openings in the insulating materialof the arc hood structure 47 and which are threaded into the insulatingsupport 7.

A metallic rigid generally U-shaped support plate 65 (FIGS. 1 and 2) isfixedly supported on the insulating support 7. The support plate 65comprises a first leg 67 having a first pivot support pin 69 supportedthereon that extends inward toward the opposite leg of the support plate65. The support plate 65 comprises a second leg 71 having a second pivotsupport pin 73 supported thereon, which pivot support pin 73 extendsoutward from the leg 71. The pivot support pin 73 comprises a threadedend portion 75 that receives a securing nut 77 that ing leg parts 83, 85(FIG. 1) at one end thereof. A three-pole overload relay 86 is removablymounted on the stationary support plate 65 between the legs 83, 85. Therelay 86 comprises an insulating housing 87 with a reset plunger 88extending from the front of the housing 87. The reset plunger can bemanually depressed inwardly to reset the relay after operation thereof.During assembly of the contactor 5, with the overload relay 86 not yetassembled onto the support plate 65, the insulating carrier 81 is moveddown in position with the leg 83 being moved down between the legs 67,71 of the support plate 65 and with the leg 85 being on the outside ofthe support plate 71 and pin 73. The insulating carrier 81 is then movedtransversely with the pin 69 entering into a bearing 90 supported in anopening 91 in the leg 83 and with the pin 73 entering into a bearing 92supported in an opening 93 in the leg 85. A washer 95 is then placedover the pin 73 and the nut 77 is then threaded onto the threadedportion 75 of the pin 73 to thereby secure the insulating carrier 81 inposition pivotally mounted on the pins 69, 73. The insulating carrier 81pivots on the bearings 90, 92 and pins 69, 73 about an axis generallynormal to the plane of the paper as seen in FIG. 2.

In each pole unit, a contact support 101, having a window opening 103therein, is secured to the insulating contact carrier 81 by means of abolt 105. A bridging contact structure 107 comprising a pair of contacts109 and 1 11, is supported on the support 101 and extends through thewindow opening 103. A biasing contact pressure spring 113 is supportedin the window opening 103 to bias the bridging contact 107 downward tothe position shown in FIG. 2 to provide contact pressure in the closedposition of the contacts. A generally U-shaped magnetic armature 119 issupported on the insulating carrier 81 in a cavity 121 that is open atthe back of the insulating carrier 81. A support plate 123 is secured tothe insulating carrier 81 by four bolts 125 (FIGS. 1 and to retain thearmature 119 against movement out of the cavity 121. A pair ofcompression springs 127 (only one of which is seen in FIG. 2) and adamping leaf spring 129 resiliently bias the armature 119 forwardagainst a depressed portion 131 of the plate 123 to permit resilientlimited generally universal movement of the armature 129 in the cavity121. The spring bias and mounting of the armature 119 and yoke 31 aremore specifically described in the hereinbefore mentioned copendingapplication Ser. No. 129,474.

The overload relay 86 is a three-pole relay comprising an insulatinghousing and a relay mechanism supported in the housing. The relay isthermally responsive and each pole thereof is electrically connected inseries with one of the current transformers 29. The thermally responsiverelay is automatically operated to operate a pair of relay contacts, inresponse to an overload in any of the contactor pole units, in awell-known manner. The relay contacts are connected in electrical serieswith the coil 39 to deenergize the coil 39 upon operation of the relay.The relay is of the type specifically described in the patent to Ramseyet al. US. Pat. No. 3,265,831 issued Aug. 9, 1966. It is to beunderstood, however, that any of a number of commercially availableoverload relays could be utilized in the combination so long as therelay is of a size to fit within between the legs 83, 85 of theinsulating carrier 81 without interfering with movement of the movablestructure 79 between the closed, open and maintenance positions. Therelay 86 is removably secured to the support 65 (FIG. 2) by means of apair of bolts 131, only one of which is seen in FIG. 2.

As was hereinbefore set forth, there are three current transformers 29for the three-pole units, and there is a three-pole relay 86 for openingthe contactor in response to an overload in any of the pole units. Itcan be understood that for certain applications two current transformerscould be provided on two of the pole units and a two-pole relay could beconnected to the two current transformers to protect the three poles ofthe contactor in a manner well known in the art.

The contactor is shown in the deenergized open position in FIG. 2. Thekick-out springs 45 bias the movable structure 79 frontward with thefrontward opening movement being limited by the engagement of theinsulating carrier 81 with a stop surface 132 of the arc hood structure79. There is a stop surface 132 in each of the pole units of the archood structure 47 engaging the associated part of the insulating carrier81 to limit opening movement of the movable structure 79. Uponenergization of the coil 39 the armature 119 is attracted to thestationary magnetic member 31 and the movable structure 79 is pivoted onthe pins 69, 73 (FIG. 1) from the deenergized open position seen in FIG.2 to the energized closed position seen in FIG. 3 wherein the movablecontacts 109, 1 11 engage the stationary contact 13, 23 respectively.Upon deenergization of the coil 39, the kick-out springs 45 move themovable structure 79 to the open position seen in FIG. 2 with theopening movement being limited by the engagement of the insulatingcarrier 81 with the stop surfaces 132 of the arc hood structure 47.

When it is desired to inspect the contact or other parts of thecontactor for maintenance purposes, the arc hood structure 47 is removedby removing the two bolts 61 (FIG. 1), and the movable structure 79 ismanually pivoted to the maintenance position seen in FIG. 4. As can beseen in FIG. 4, in the maintenance position the movable structure ismoved through an angle of approximately 90 from the closed position ofthe movable structure. During movement of the movable structure 79 tothe maintenance position, the bridging contact structures move throughthe slots 59 in the arccups 57. The movable structure 79 is movable tothe maintenance position without requiring disassembly or adjustment ofparts other than removal of the arc hood structure 47. Upon movement ofthe movable structure to the maintenance position the carrier 81 engagesand depresses the reset plunger 88 of the overload relay 86 and themovable structure is stopped in the maintenance position by the plunger88 when the plunger 88 reaches the limit of its inward movement. Atinstallations when the overload relay 86 is not used the movablestructure is stopped in the maintenance position when a pair of stopsurfaces 134 (FIG. 4) on the insulating carrier 81 engage surfaces 136on the legs of the U-shaped support 65. At the installations in thecontactor 5 is mounted on a vertical panel and the movable structure 79is pivoted downward to the maintenance position. Thus the weight of themovable structure 79 will maintain the movable structure in themaintenance position.

During opening operations of the contactor the are that is drawn betweenthe stationary contact 23 and movable contact 111 is attracted to themagnetic cup 57. The are drawn between the stationary contact 13 andmovable contact 109 is attracted into the bight portions of the U-shapedplates 53 to be broken up into a plurality of serially related arcs thatare extinguished in a well known manner.

With the provision of stopping the opening movement of the movablestructure 79 by the engagement of the insulating carrier 81 with theinsulating arc hood part 49 of the arc hood structure 47, it can beunderstood that the movable structure 79 can be freely moved to themaintenance position after the arc hood structure 47 is removed withoutnecessitating any other disassembly of parts. With the insulatingcarrier 81 having a generally U-shaped back portion to provide thespaced legs 83, 85, and with the legs 83, being supported on the pins69, 73, there is space between the legs 83, 85 for the overload relay 89that is removably mounted on the support 65, to provide a compactarrangement. As can be understood with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4,the movable structure 79 is movable between the closed, open andmaintenance positions without interference from the overload relay 89.The insulating carrier 81 is readily mounted on the pins 69, 73, beingmoved into position with the relay 89 removed in the manner hereinbeforedescribed, and a single securing nut 77 is threaded onto the threadedportion 75 of the pin 73 to secure the insulating carrier 81 in positionpivotally mounted on the pins 69, 73.

We claim:

1. A contactor comprising an insulating support, a contactor-structuresupported on said insulating support, said contactor-structurecomprising a stationary contact structure, a movable structurecomprising an insulating carrier and a movable contact structure, meanssupporting said movable contact structure on said insulating carrier inproximity to one end of said insulating carrier, pivot support meanssupporting said insulating carrier in proximity to the opposite end ofsaid insulating carrier for movement about a fixed pivot,electromagnetic means, said electromagnetic means comprising a magneticyoke and an energizing coil supported on said insulating support, saidelectromagnetic means comprising a magnetic armature supported on saidinsulating carrier as part of said movable structure with said magneticarmature being supported on said insulating carrier between said movablecontact structure and said pivot support means, an arc hood structuresupported on said insulating support in proximity to said stationary andmovable contact structure, kick-out spring means biasing said movablestructure toward an open unactuated position, upon energization of saidcoil said armature being attracted to said yoke to pivotally move saidmovable structure in a closing direction against the bias of saidkick-out spring means to an actuated closed position wherein saidmovable contact structure engages said stationary contact structure,upon deenergization of said energizing coil to open said contact saidkick-out spring means pivotally moving said movable structure in anopening direction toward an open position wherein said movable contactstructure is disengaged from said stationary contact structure, and stopmeans on said arc hood structure engaging said movable structure tolimit opening movement of said movable structure.

2. A contact according to claim 1, and said stop means on said are hoodstructure engaging said insulating carrier to limit opening movement ofsaid movable structure.

3. A contactor according to claim 1, said are hood structure beingremovably secured to said insulating support, and upon removal of saidarc hood structure said movable structure being pivotally movable in theopening direction past said open position to a maintenance position.

4. A contactor according to claim 3, and in said maintenance positionsaid movable structure being moved through an angle of more than 80 fromthe closed position of said movable structure.

5. A contactor comprising an insulating support, a contactor structureon said insulating support, said contactor structure comprising astationary contact structure, a movable contact structure cooperablewith said stationary contact structure, an insulating carrier, meanssupporting said movable contact structure on said insulating carrier inproximity to one end of said insulating carrier, said insulating carriercomprising a pair of spaced insulating leg portions in proximity to theother end thereof, pivot support means supporting said spaced insulatingleg portions for pivotal movement about an axis,

said pivot support means comprising a'separate pivot support means foreach of said spaced insulating leg portions, electromagnetic means, saidelectromagnetic means comprising a stationary magnetic yoke and anenergizing coil supported on said insulating support, saidelectromagnetic means comprising a magnetic armature supported on saidinsulating carrier between said movable contact structure and said pivotsupport means, kick-out spring means biasing said insulating carriertoward an unactuated open position, an overload relay removablysupported on said insulating support between said spaced insulating legportions of said insulating carrier, said overload relay beingresponsive to an overload in said contactor to efi'ect deenergization ofsaid coil when said contactor is in the closed position, uponenergization of said coil said armature being attracted to saidstationary magnetic member to pivotsaid insulating carrier about saidaxis to thereby move said movable contact structure into engagement withsaid stationary contact structure, and upon deenergization of said coilsaid kick-out spring means moving said movable structure to an openposition wherein said movable contact structure is spaced from saidstationary contact structure.

6. A contactor according to claim 5, an arc hood structure removablysupported on said insulating support in proximity to said contactstructures, upon removal of said are hood structure from said insulatingsupport said movable structure being pivotally movable past the openposition thereof to a maintenance position, and in said maintenanceposition said movable contact structure being disposed generally oversaid overload relay.

7. A contactor according to claim 5, a generally U-shaped support platesupported on said insulating support, a first pin on said support plateextending from a first leg of said support plate generally toward thesecond leg of said support plate, a second pin on said support plateextending from said second leg of said support plate in the samedirection as said first pin and on the outside of said second leg, afirst of said insulating leg portions of said insulating carrier beingpivotally supported on said first pin and the second of said insulatingleg portions of said insulating carrier being pivotally supported onsaid second pin.

8. A contactor according to claim 7, said second pin comprising athreaded end portion, and securing means on said threaded end portionsecuring said insulating carrier on said first and second pins.

9. A contactor according to claim 8, stop means on said arc hoodstructure engaging said insulating carrier to limit opening movement ofsaid insulating carrier, and with said arc hood structure removed saidinsulating carrier being pivotally movable to said maintenance positionwithout requiring further disassembly of said contactor.

1. A contactor comprising an insulating support, a contactorstructuresupported on said insulating support, said contactorstructure comprisinga stationary contact structure, a movable structure comprising aninsulating carrier and a movable contact structure, means supportingsaid movable contact structure on said insulating carrier in proximityto one end of said insulating carrier, pivot support means supportingsaid insulating carrier in proximity to the opposite end of saidinsulating carrier for movement about a fixed pivot, electromagneticmeans, said electromagnetic means comprising a magnetic yoke and anenergizing coil supported on said insulating support, saidelectromagnetic means comprising a magnetic armature supported on saidinsulating carrier as part of said movable structure with said magneticarmature being supported on said insulating carrier between said movablecontact structure and said pivot support means, an arc hood structuresupported on said insulating support in proximity to said stationary andmovable contact structure, kick-out spring means biasing said movablestructure toward an open unactuated position, upon energization of saidcoil said armature being attracted to said yoke to pivotally move saidmovable structure in a closing direction against the bias of saidkick-out spring means to an actuated closed position wherein saidmovable contact structure engages said stationary contact structure,upon deenergization of said energizing coil to open said contact saidkick-out spring means pivotally moving said movable structure in anopening direction toward an open position wherein said movable contactstructure is disengaged from said stationary contact structure, and stopmeans on said arc hood structure engaging said movable structure tolimit opening movement of said movable structure.
 2. A contact accordingto claim 1, and said stop means on said arc hood structure engaging saidinsulating carrier to limit opening movement of said movable structure.3. A contactor according to claim 1, said arc hood structure beingremovably secured to said insulating support, and upon removal of saidArc hood structure said movable structure being pivotally movable in theopening direction past said open position to a maintenance position. 4.A contactor according to claim 3, and in said maintenance position saidmovable structure being moved through an angle of more than 80* from theclosed position of said movable structure.
 5. A contactor comprising aninsulating support, a contactor structure on said insulating support,said contactor structure comprising a stationary contact structure, amovable contact structure cooperable with said stationary contactstructure, an insulating carrier, means supporting said movable contactstructure on said insulating carrier in proximity to one end of saidinsulating carrier, said insulating carrier comprising a pair of spacedinsulating leg portions in proximity to the other end thereof, pivotsupport means supporting said spaced insulating leg portions for pivotalmovement about an axis, said pivot support means comprising a separatepivot support means for each of said spaced insulating leg portions,electromagnetic means, said electromagnetic means comprising astationary magnetic yoke and an energizing coil supported on saidinsulating support, said electromagnetic means comprising a magneticarmature supported on said insulating carrier between said movablecontact structure and said pivot support means, kick-out spring meansbiasing said insulating carrier toward an unactuated open position, anoverload relay removably supported on said insulating support betweensaid spaced insulating leg portions of said insulating carrier, saidoverload relay being responsive to an overload in said contactor toeffect deenergization of said coil when said contactor is in the closedposition, upon energization of said coil said armature being attractedto said stationary magnetic member to pivot said insulating carrierabout said axis to thereby move said movable contact structure intoengagement with said stationary contact structure, and upondeenergization of said coil said kick-out spring means moving saidmovable structure to an open position wherein said movable contactstructure is spaced from said stationary contact structure.
 6. Acontactor according to claim 5, an arc hood structure removablysupported on said insulating support in proximity to said contactstructures, upon removal of said arc hood structure from said insulatingsupport said movable structure being pivotally movable past the openposition thereof to a maintenance position, and in said maintenanceposition said movable contact structure being disposed generally oversaid overload relay.
 7. A contactor according to claim 5, a generallyU-shaped support plate supported on said insulating support, a first pinon said support plate extending from a first leg of said support plategenerally toward the second leg of said support plate, a second pin onsaid support plate extending from said second leg of said support platein the same direction as said first pin and on the outside of saidsecond leg, a first of said insulating leg portions of said insulatingcarrier being pivotally supported on said first pin and the second ofsaid insulating leg portions of said insulating carrier being pivotallysupported on said second pin.
 8. A contactor according to claim 7, saidsecond pin comprising a threaded end portion, and securing means on saidthreaded end portion securing said insulating carrier on said first andsecond pins.
 9. A contactor according to claim 8, stop means on said archood structure engaging said insulating carrier to limit openingmovement of said insulating carrier, and with said arc hood structureremoved said insulating carrier being pivotally movable to saidmaintenance position without requiring further disassembly of saidcontactor.